Carton having a strap handle and light protective flaps

ABSTRACT

A carton includes a top panel, a pair of opposed end panels, and an integral strap handle that defines in the top panel an opening extending across the top panel, and has a medial grip portion, a pair of wider portions and opposed end portions. The opposed end portions are formed from the end panels while the medial and wider portions are formed from the top panel. The strap handle is movable from a stowed position where the medial and wider portions lie in the plane of the top panel to a use position where the medial portion is arched upwardly from the plane of the top panel. Light protective flaps connected to the top panel fold inwardly defining apertures for accessing the strap handle to place it in the use position, and spring back into a light-protecting position when the strap handle is in the stowed position.

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/280,405, filed Oct. 25, 2002, which claims the benefit ofProvisional Applications No. 60/347,968 and 60/332,455, filed Oct. 27,2001 and Nov. 17, 2001, respectively, the entirety of each of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to cartons having strap handlesintegrally formed from one or more carton walls, and more particularly,to a carton with an integral strap handle and further to an arrangementfor protecting the user's hand when the carton is lifted by the straphandle, and that protect the contents from light when the carton is notbeing lifted by the strap handle.

Cartons having integral strap handles are well known in the art. Anexample of the strap handle carton is disclosed in Canadian Patent No.1,243,987 in which a carton is illustrated as having a strap handle thatis formed primarily from a top wall. The strap handle includes alongitudinally elongated medial grip portion and a pair of widerportions located at opposite ends of the medial grip portion. Each widerportion is defined by a pair of cut lines that diverge from the medialgrip portion toward the adjacent end edge of the top wall. To lift thecarton, the strap handle is gripped at the medial grip portion andpulled upward, which displaces the handle from a stowed position wherethe handle lies in the plane of the top wall to a use position where itis arched upwardly from the plane of the top wall. The carton is lighttight when the handle is in its stowed position. However, in lifting thecarton, it is necessary to fold the handle flaps inwardly to underliethe elongated medial grip portion of the handle. The apertures formed bythis action provide finger access to permit the elongated handle portionto be grasped and lifted.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,273 discloses another example of the strap handlecarton wherein the top wall comprises a pair of inner and outer panelsand the strap handle is formed in part from the inner top panel and inpart from opposed inner end flaps that are hingedly connected the endedges of the inner top panel. The inner end flaps are glued to opposedouter end flaps that are hingedly connected to the end edges of theouter top panel. For this purpose, glue is applied typically along thelower edges of the end flaps such that the opposed end portions of thestrap handle are free of restraint from the outer end flaps. Thisspecific glue location is required in order to allow inward movement ofthe opposed end portions of the strap handle when the carton is liftedby the handle. If glued to the outer end flaps, the handle end portionswould be forcibly peeled from the outer end flaps, which could damagethe fibrous structure of the handle ends. Although the glue locationsare almost precisely controllable by the use of modern packagingmachines, having precautionary measures would always be warranted toprevent undesired rupture of the strap handle.

What is needed, therefore, is a carton having an integral, wide-endedstrap handle wherein the interference of the strap handle with the topwall is effectively prevented or at least mitigated during the use ofthe strap handle. Such a carton should be provided with means forpreventing the wider portions from being caught by complementary edgesof the opening in the top wall. A carton having handle-reinforcing meansthat would compensate for a potential peeling damage of the strap handleis also needed. What is further needed is an arrangement wherein inwardmovement of the handle end portions is facilitated upon lifting of thecarton by the strap handle. Such an arrangement should be providedparticularly when the handle end portions are reinforced.

What is further needed is a strap handle that provides light protectionwhenever the carton is not being carried. Such strap handle wouldprovide light protection to the bottle, can or other articles, therebydecreasing or preventing degradation of the product contained within thecarton. An example of light degradation on certain bottled products iswhen light comes into contact with beer/wine it can reduce the qualityof the beer/wine. The light protecting strap handle of this inventionwould ensure that the contents of the carton, whether food or beverage,would be preserved for an extended period of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a carton including a first top panel, apair of opposed end panels hingedly connected to the first top panel,and an integral strap handle extending between the end panels across thefirst top panel. The strap handle includes a medial grip portion, a pairof wider portions joined to the opposite ends of the medial grip portionand opposed end portions connected to the wider portions, respectively.The opposed end portions are formed from the end panels, while themedial and wider portions are formed from the first top panel. The straphandle is movable from a stowed position where the medial and widerportions lie in the plane of the first top panel, to a use position,where the medial portion is arched upwardly from the plane of the firsttop panel. The strap handle defines in the first top panel an opening orcutout extending across the first top panel. Means for defining a reliefnotch in the first top panel is provided at the location directlyadjoining each wider portion along a complementary side edge of theopening so that a part of the respective wider portion is extendedthrough the relief notch when the strap handle is moved to the useposition. This arrangement prevents the wider portions from beingscraped against the complementary side edge of the opening.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the relief notch is definedby a hinged tab. The hinged tab may be defined by a slit in the firsttop panel and by a fold line hingedly connecting the hinged tab to thefirst top panel.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the relief notch isdefined by a plurality of hinged tabs. The hinged tabs may be cut fromthe first top panel by one or more slits such that when the strap handleis moved to the use position, the part of each wider portion moves intoone of the slits to thrust one or more of the hinged tabs upward and theother tabs downward. The one or more slits for the relief notch mayemanate from a fold line by which the hinged tabs are connected to thefirst top panel and extend to the complementary side edge of the openingdefined by the strap handle.

In a further preferred embodiment, the carton further includes a secondtop panel secured to the outside surface of the first top panel to forma composite top wall. The second top panel may have a handle accessopening aligned in part with the medial grip portion of the strap handleand in part with the wider portions of the strap handle. The width ofthe access opening at its opposite extreme ends may be greater than thewidth of the wider portions at the positions aligned with the oppositeextreme ends.

According to another aspect of the invention, a carton includes top andbase panels interconnected by opposed side panels to form a tubularstructure, opposed end closure structures for at least partially closingthe opposite ends of the tubular structure, and an integral strap handleextending between the end closure structures across the top panel. Eachend closure structure includes a pair of side end flaps hingedlyconnected to the side panels and a top end flap hingedly connected tothe top panel and disposed on the outside surfaces of the adjacent sideend flaps. The strap handle includes a medial grip portion formed fromthe top panel and opposed end portions formed respectively from theopposed top end flaps. The strap handle is movable from a stowedposition where the end portions lie in the respective planes of the topend flaps to a use position where the end portions are disposed inwardlyof the respective planes of the top end flaps. At least one yieldingflap is formed from the side end flaps of each end closure structure anddisposed along the adjacent end portion of the strap handle so as to bedisplaceable inwardly of the carton. These yielding flaps are inwardlydisplaced in response to inward movement of the handle end portions tothe use position and thereby facilitate inward movement of the handleend portions.

In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the yieldingflaps are secured to the end portions of the strap handle respectivelyto reinforce the strap handle.

In another preferred embodiment, each yielding flap is defined by aseverance line in the respective side end flap and by the free end edgeof the respective side end flap. The severance line may extenddownwardly from the upper edge of the respective side end flap. Theseverance lines may be disposed and located such that the severance lineof the respective side end flap is generally registered with theadjacent side edge of the adjacent end portion of the strap handle.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the size of the side end flaps issuch that the side end flaps of each end closure structure overlap eachother and as a whole extend entirely across the width of the carton.Each side end flap of each end closure structure may be provided at itsupper end corner with a beveled edge. The beveled edges of the matingside end flaps may define a notch for receiving an article packaged inthe carton.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a carton includes a pairof inner and outer top panels secured together in an overlappingrelationship to form a composite top wall, a pair of opposed end flapshingedly connected to the inner top panel, an integral strap handleextending between the end flaps across the inner top panel, and ahandle-reinforcing strip disposed in face-contacting relationship withthe strap handle. The strap handle includes a medial grip portion, apair of wider portions joined to the opposite ends of the medial gripportion, and a pair of opposed end portions connected to the widerportions respectively. The opposed end portions of the strap handle areformed from the end flaps respectively while the medial and widerportions are formed from the inner top panel. The reinforcing strip isdisposed entirely along the strap handle and is hingedly connected tothe end flaps along first and second fold lines that are inset from theadjacent side edges of the end portions of the strap handle.

In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, thereinforcing strip is hingedly connected to the medial grip portion ofthe strap handle along a third fold line that is aligned with the firstand second fold lines.

In another preferred embodiment, the end portions of the strap handleare formed with article-receiving openings respectively. The reinforcingstrip may be formed with windows disposed in registry with the openingsrespectively. Each opening of the strap handle may be defined by a pairof yieldable tabs formed from the respective end portion of the straphandle. The yieldable tabs of each opening may be hingedly connected tothe respective end portion.

In yet another preferred embodiment, light protecting flaps are hingedlyconnected to the outer top panel of the carton. The light protectingflaps fold inward somewhat in response to the strap handle being movedto a position of use, in order to accommodate the fingers of a hand.When the strap handle is returned to the stowed position, the lightprotecting flaps spring substantially back to their original positions,thereby blocking the infiltration of light into the interior of thecarton.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a blank as viewed from its inner surface,from which a carton according to this invention is formed;

FIGS. 2-4 are series of plan views showing the manner in which the blankof FIG. 1 may be folded to form a completed collapsed carton;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a completed carton erected from theblank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the carton of FIG. 5, showing the handlelifted upwardly;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carton of FIG. 5, inwhich the tear flap is broke open to show the inside of the carton;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the second embodiment of the present invention,showing a blank as viewed from its inner surface, from which a carton ofthe second embodiment is formed;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a completed carton erected from theblank of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view taken along the line X-X of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carton of FIG. 9, inwhich the tear flap is broke open to show the inside of the carton;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of another carton blank, showing afirst variation of the relief notches shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary plan view of a still another carton blank,showing a second variation of the relief notches shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary plan view of a further carton blank, showing athird variation of the relief notches shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary plan view of a further carton blank, showing avariation of the strap handle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a blank, asviewed from its inner surface, from which a carton having lightprotective flaps according to this invention is formed; and

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the carton of FIG. 16, showing thehandle lifted upwardly and the light protection flaps folding inwardly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, there is shown a blank 10 which when constructed, forms acarton 12 in FIG. 5 for a plurality of bottles. In this embodiment, thecarton 12 is a fully enclosed carton designed to accommodate twelvebottles arranged in three rows each containing four bottles, but theblank or carton may be modified for any number of bottles, cans or otherarticles.

The blank 10 has a base panel 14, a pair of side panels 16 and 18hingedly connected thereto along fold lines 20 and 22 respectively, andfirst and second top panels 26 and 24 hingedly connected to the sidepanels 18 and 16 along fold lines 30 and 28 respectively. The fold lines20, 22, 28 and 30 may be simple score lines, partially cut score lines,perforated lines or other suitable means. The base panel 14 has lowerend flaps 32 and 34 which in use are folded up, and the top panels 24and 26 have upper end flaps 36, 38, 40 and 42 which in use are foldeddown. Hingedly connected to the side panels 16 and 18 are side end flaps44, 46, 48 and 50 which are folded inwardly and are adhesively securedto the inside surfaces of the end flaps 32, 34, 36 and 38 so as to fullyenclose the ends of the carton 12. The side end flaps 44, 46, 48 and 50each includes upper and lower portions 52 and 54. The lower portion 54of each side end flap is hingedly connected to the respective side panelalong a vertical fold line 56 while the upper portion 52 of each sideend flap is hingedly connected to the respective side panel along aninwardly inclined fold line 58. The upper and lower portions 52 and 54of each side end flap are interconnected by a short fold line 60.

The first and second top panels 26 and 24 in this embodiment are adaptedto be secured together in overlapping relationship to form a compositetop wall 250 (FIG. 5) of the carton 12. The second top panel 24 forms anouter layer of the top wall while the first panel 26 forms an innerlayer. Finger receiving apertures and associated flaps 61 and 63 ofconventional construction are formed in the first or inner top panel 26.The finger receiving aperture having the flap 61 is designated generallyby the reference numeral 62 while the associated aperture having theflap 63 is designated by reference numeral 64. Similar finger-receivingapertures and their associated flaps 65 and 67 are formed in the secondor outer top panel 24 and are designated generally by the referencenumerals 66 and 68. A tear flap for creating an access opening isdefined by tear lines 70 and 72 formed in the outer top panel 24together with tear lines 74 and 76 in the side panel 16. Another pair oftear lines 78 and 80 is formed in the outer top panel 24. These tearlines 78 and 80 define another tear flap together with pairs of tearlines 81 and 82; and 84 and 86 in the side panel 18 and the inner toppanel 26, respectively.

The inner top panel 26 incorporates a series of tear lines 88, 90, 92and 94 which define a strap handle 200 with the free side edge. Morespecifically, the tear line 88 is formed in the upper end flap 40 andconnects with the tear line 90 formed in inner top panel 26 that extendsto the finger receiving aperture 62. Similarly the tear line 92 isformed in the upper end flap 42 and connects with the tear line 94formed in the inner panel 26 that extends to the aperture 62. The straphandle 200 is thus defined by the tear lines 88, 90, 92 and 94 incooperation with the finger-receiving apertures 62 and 64. The straphandle 200 includes a relatively narrow medial grip portion 202, opposedwider portions 204 and 206 joined to the ends of the medial portion 200,and opposed forked end portions 208 and 210 hingedly connected to thewider portions 204 and 206 along fold lines 212 and 214 respectively.Each wider portion has a pair of oblique side edges diverging from themedial portion 202 to the adjacent forked end portion. The medialportion 202 and the wider portions 204 and 206 are formed from the innertop panel 26 while the forked end portions 208 and 210 are formed fromthe upper end flaps 40 and 42 respectively. Upon formation of the topwall, the inner top panel 26 is folded across the top of the carton andthe outer top panel 24 is folded over and is adhesively secured to theinner top panel 26. The tear lines 88, 90, 92 and 94 and thefinger-receiving apertures 62 and 64 are located such that the straphandle 200 is located generally centrally between the two side panels 16and 18.

The aforementioned flap 61 of the finger-receiving aperture 62 ishingedly connected to the medial grip portion 202 along a fold line 216.An yieldable tab 96 is struck from the forked end portion 208 andfoldably joined to the upper end flap 40 while a short stub tab 98 isstruck from the wider portion 204 and is hingedly connected theretoalong fold line 100. The adjacent ends of the tabs 96 and 98 areinitially interconnected by severable means such as half cut 102 that isaligned with the fold line 212. At the opposed end of the strap handle200, a yieldable tab 104 is struck from the forked end portion 210 andfoldably joined to the upper end flap 42 while a short stub tab 106 isstruck from the wider portion 206 and hingedly connected thereto alongfold line 108. The adjacent ends of the tabs 104 and 106 are initiallyinterconnected by severable half cut 110 that is aligned with the foldline 214.

A relief notch 218 is defined in the inner top panel 26 at a locationalong the tear line 90, thereby interrupting the tear line 90. Thelocation of the relief notch 218 is such that the wider portion 204 isdirectly flanked or adjoined at its oblique side edge along the tearline 90 by the relief notch 218. In like manner, a relief notch 220 isdefined in the inner top panel 26 at a location along the tear line 94,thereby interrupting the tear line 94. As a result, the wider portion206 is directly adjoined at its oblique side edge along the tear line 94by the relief notch 220. The function of these relief notches 218 and220 is described later.

A handle-reinforcing panel 112 is foldably joined to the medial gripportion 202 of the strap handle 200 along an interrupted fold line 114.

The outer top panel 24 is further provided with a pair of C- or U-shapedtear lines 222 and 224. The tear line 222 emanates from an end of thefinger apertures 66 and terminates at the adjacent end of the fingeraperture 68 while the tear line 224 emanates from the other end of theaperture 66 and terminates at the other end of the aperture 68. Thesetear lines 222 and 224 are opposed to each other while curving concavelytoward each other. As a result, a dust panel or cover strip 226 isdefined at the central area of the outer top panel 24 surrounded by thetear lines 222 and 224 and the finger apertures 66 and 68. The coverstrip 226, upon formation of the top wall, is located above the straphandle 200. The middle portion 228 of the cover strip 226 disposedbetween the finger apertures 66 and 68 is to be vertically aligned withthe medial grip portion 202 of the strap handle 200 while the opposedlarger end portions 230 and 232 of the cover strip 226 are to bedisposed on the wider portions 204 and 206 of the strap handle 200respectively. The respective flaps 65 and 67 of the finger apertures 66and 68 are hingedly connected to portion 228 by fold lines 234 and 236.

Turning to the construction of the carton 12 illustrated in FIG. 5, theblank 10 requires a series of sequential folding and securing operationswhich can be performed in a straight line machine so that the carton isnot required to be rotated or inverted to complete its construction. Thefolding process is not limited to that described below and can bealtered according to particular manufacturing requirements.

Initially, an application of glue is made to the inner surface ofreinforcing panel 112 as indicated by the stippling in FIG. 1. Thereinforcing panel 112 is then folded upwardly and to the left along theinterrupted fold line 114 so as to occupy the position shown in FIG. 2.The side panel 18 together with the inner top panel 26 and the foldedreinforcing panel 112 as viewed in FIG. 2 are then elevated and foldedto the left along fold line 22 together with their end flaps 48, 50, 40and 42. An application of glue is then made to the outside surface ofthe inner top panel 26 and to the upper end flaps 40 and 42 as shown bythe stippling in FIG. 3 wherein the forked end portions 208 and 210 ofthe strap handle 200 are shown as being free of glue. Thereafter, theouter top panel 24 and its associated upper end flaps 36 and 38 asviewed in FIG. 3 are elevated and folded toward the right along the foldline 28. This operation causes the stippled glue area 240 on the innertop panel 26 to become adhered to the inside surface of the free sideedge area 242 of the outer top panel 24. Simultaneously, the stippledarea on the end flap 40 becomes adhered to the inside surface of theupper end flap 36 while the stippled area on the end flap 42 becomesadhered to the inside surface of the upper end flap 38. Further, thestippled area of the strap handle becomes adhered to the inside surfaceof the cover strip 226. The collapsed tubular carton then appears asshown in FIG. 4.

With the carton formed as described above by the carrier manufacturer,it is then shipped to the bottler who sets the carton up into an erectedtubular form (not shown) and loads filled bottles through the open endsof the tubular carton. Thereafter the end flaps are folded inwardly inthe sequence of the side end flaps, the composite upper end flaps, andthe lower end flaps and the carton when fully loaded and completed bythe bottler appears as shown in FIG. 5 with the upper edge of each lowerend flap secured in overlapping glued contact with the lower edge of theassociated upper end flap.

The consumer transports the completed carton package from its point ofpurchase. To carry the carton 12, the strap handle 200 can be used. Touse the handle 200, the flaps 65 and 67 and the flap 61 underlying theflap 65 are pushed inwardly of the carton and folded downwardly abouttheir respective fold lines 234, 236 and 216. The fingers of the usercan then be inserted into the finger apertures 66 and 68 and theunderlying aperture 62 and grasp the medial portion 202 of the straphandle 200 together with the middle portion 228 of the cover strip 226.Lifting the carton 12 by the strap handle 200 causes the cover strip 226to be severed from the outer top panel 24 along the C-shaped tear lines222 and 224 as well as the strap handle 200 to be severed from the innertop panel 26 and the end flaps 40 and 42 along the tear lines 88, 90, 92and 94. This, in turn, causes the strap handle 200 to arc out of thegeneral plane of the top wall through the opening 251 defined by thecover strip 226. This is best shown in FIG. 6 where the strap handle 200that is mostly hidden from view by the cover strip 226 and the top panel24 is pulled out of the carton through the opening 251 taking an archeduse position. When the handle 200 is moved from its stowed position inFIG. 5 into the use position of FIG. 6, the wider portions 204 and 206of the strap handle 200 are pulled toward each other together with theadjacent forked end portions 208 and 210 so that a slack is availablefor the handle 200 to take the use position. Simultaneously, therespective areas of the wider portions 204 and 206 near the fold lines212 and 214 are pulled downwardly under the plane of the top wall 250.Such movements cause the respective oblique side edges of the widerportions 204 and 206 defined by the tear lines 90 and 94 to be receivedin, and extended through, the relief notches 218 and 220 respectively.This is best shown in FIG. 7 wherein the oblique side edge 254 of thewider portion 206 is received in the relief notch 220 and extendedthrough the notch 220. By this means, abutting and scraping of theoblique side edge of each wider portion against the complementary edgeof the opening (or cutout) 252 in the inner top panel 26 is prevented,which would otherwise be caused without the relief notches 218 and 220.In addition, the width of the larger end portions 230 and 232 at theirextreme ends may be arranged to be greater than the width at theregistered positions of the wider portions 204 and 206. Such anarrangement prevents abutting and scraping of the wider portions 204 and206 against the complementary side edges of the opening 251 in the outertop panel 24.

During the above operation, the yielding tabs 96 and 104 remain flatwith the respective end flaps 40 and 42 so that the openings defined bythe yielding tabs 96 and 104 receives the end bottles of the center rowof the packaged bottle group to allow the forked end portions 208 and210 to move toward each other.

In order to open the carrier, the user's fingers are simply inserted,for example, into the finger aperture 66 and an upward force is thenapplied. Such upward force severs the tear flap section 256 (FIG. 7)defined by tear lines 78, 80, 81 and 82 from the carton walls and definean access opening 258 (FIG. 7) that extends from the top wall 250 intothe side panel 18. The user's fingers may also be inserted into thefinger aperture 68 to sever the tear flap section defined by tear lines70, 72, 74 and 76 from the carton walls.

After the contents of the bottles have been consumed, the bottles may bereplaced into the carton as shown in FIG. 7 for easy return to the pointof purchase.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, wherelike parts have been designated by the same reference numeral with thesuffix “A” and only the differences are discussed in any greater detail.As best shown in FIG. 8, the carton blank 10A has rectangular sidepanels 16A and 18A each provided with a pair of large-sized side endflaps 44A, 46A, 48A and 50A. The side end flaps 44A and 46A are hingedlyconnected to the side panel 16A along fold lines 58A and 58A while theside end flaps 48A and 50A are hingedly connected to the side panel 18Aalong fold lines 58A and 58A. The size of these large side end flaps issuch that upon erection of a carton, the mating pair of side end flaps(such as at 44A and 48A) at each end of the carton overlap each otherand they as a whole extend entirely across the width of the carton. Thiscondition is best shown in FIG. 10 wherein the side end flaps 46A and50A are viewed from the inside of a carton 12A (shown in FIG. 9) that iserected from the blank 10A. Each side end flap is provided at the cornerbetween its upper edge 310 and its free end edge 312 with a beveled edge314. The beveled edges 314 of the mating side end flaps define a notch316 (shown in FIG. 10) when the carton 12A is erected. The notch 316serves to receive an end bottle of the center row of the packaged bottlegroup when the carton 12A is lifted by the strap handle, which isdescribed later in more detail.

Each side end flap is further provided with a severance line 318 (e.g.,a slit, a tear line or the like) emanating from the upper edge 310 ofthat side end flap and extending toward the lower edge 320 of the sameside end flap. The severance lines 318 are disposed and located suchthat when the carton 12A is erected, the severance line 318 of each sideend flap is generally registered with the adjacent side edge of theadjacent forked end portion of the strap handle 200A. In FIG. 10, forexample, the severance line 318 of the side end flap 46A is generallyregistered with, or slightly offset outwardly from, the side edge 322 ofthe forked end portion 210A. In like manner, the severance line 318 ofthe side end flap 50A is generally registered with, or slightly offsetoutwardly from, the other side edge (defined by the tear line 92A) ofthe forked end portion 210A. The length of each severance line 318 isgenerally equal to, or greater than, that of the handle-defining tearline in the adjacent inner upper end flap. In FIG. 10, for example, theseverance line 318 of each of the side end flaps 46A and 50A is equalto, or greater in length than the tear line 92A in the inner upper endflap 42A.

Further, each side end flap is provided with a yielding flap 324 that isdefined by the respective severance line 318, the respective upper edge310 and the adjacent beveled edge 314. When the carton 12A is completed,the yielding flaps 324 form respective portions of the side end flaps44A, 46A, 48A and 50A that are movable inwardly of the carton along withthe end portions of the strap handle 200A.

The construction of the carton 12A is carried out in virtually the sameway as that of the carton 12 of the preceding embodiment except for thesteps of closing the opposite ends of the carton 12A. After filledbottles are loaded through the open ends of the tubular carton, the endflaps are folded inwardly in the sequence of the side end flaps, thelower end flaps, and the composite upper end flaps. During the aboveend-closing steps, glue is applied to either the outside surface of theyielding flaps 324 or the inside surface of the forked end portions 208Aand 210A of the strap handle 200A. An example of such glue areas isshown by the stippling in FIG. 8 wherein the glue areas extends from theforked end portions 208A and 210A into the adjacent inner top end flaps40A and 42. This glue application causes the stippled areas on theforked end portion 208A to become adhered to the outside surface of theyielding flaps 324 of the side end flaps 44A and 48A. In like manner,the stippled areas on the forked end portion 210A become adhered to theoutside surface of the yielding flaps 324 of the side end flaps 46A and50A. The completed carton 12A is shown in FIG. 9 wherein the upper andlower end flaps at each end of the carton 12A is secured in overlappingglued contact with the outside surfaces of the associated side endflaps.

In the same way as described in the first embodiment, lifting the carton12A by the strap handle 200A causes the handle 200A to be moved from itsstowed position in FIG. 9 into the use position in FIG. 11. During thismovement, the forked end portions 208A and 210A of the strap handle 200Aare pulled toward each other so that a slack is available for the handle200A to take the use position. The inward movement of the end portions208A and 210A is facilitated by the yielding flaps 324 and 324 that areeasily displaced inwardly of the carton along with the inward movementof the end portions 208A and 210A. This is best shown in FIG. 11 whereinthe yielding flaps 324 are flexed out of the plane of the side end flaps46A and 50A and thereby allowing the end portion 210A of the straphandle 200A to move inwardly of the carton 12A. The notches 316 definedby the respective beveled edges 314 functions to receive the end bottlesof the center row of the packaged bottle group to allow the end portions208A and 210A to move toward each other. The yielding tabs 96A and 104Aremain flat with the respective upper end flaps 40A and 42A to defineopenings that cooperate with the notches 316 to receive the end bottles.

During the inward movement of the end portions 208A and 210A, part ofthe end portions 208A and 210A and/or the adjacent portions of the innerupper end flaps 40A and 42A may be forcibly peeled from the associatedupper end flaps 36A and 38A if they have been glued, either purposely orinadvertently, to the upper end flaps 36A and 38A. Upon such peeling,some constituent pulp or fiber of end portions 208A and 210A could betaken away to the extent that the strap handle 200A is physicallydamaged or at least the structural strength of the handle 200A issomewhat affected. In the present invention, however, the yielding flaps324 reinforce the end portions 208A and 210A and provide a precautionarymeasure against undesired damage of the strap handle 200A around theopposite end portions 208A and 210A.

Although it is not apparent from FIG. 11, relief notches 218A and 220Aalso function such that when the strap handle 200A is in the useposition, the respective oblique side edges of the wider portions 204Aand 206A are received in the relief notches 218A and 220A and therebyabutting and scraping of the oblique side edge of each wider portionagainst the complementary edge of the opening 252A in the inner toppanel 26A is prevented.

FIGS. 12-14 illustrate variations or alternative embodiments of therelief notches 218A and 220A in FIG. 8. In FIG. 12, parts correspondingto those in FIG. 8 have been designated by the same reference numeralwith the suffix “B”. In like manner, parts in FIG. 13 corresponding tothose in FIG. 8 have been denoted by the same reference numeral withsuffix “C” while parts in FIG. 14 corresponding to those in FIG. 8 havebeen denoted by the same reference numeral with suffix “D”.

FIG. 12 shows the first variation wherein the relief notches are definedby hinged tabs 330 and 332, respectively. The hinged tab 330 is cut fromthe inner top panel 26B by means of a slit 338 and hingedly connected tothe inner top panel 26B along a fold line 334. The hinged tab 332 isalso cut from the inner top panel 26B by a slit 340 and hingedlyconnected to the inner top panel 26B along a fold line 336. When thestrap handle 200B is pulled upward to lift a resultant carton, therespective parts of the wider portions 204B and 206B along tear lines90B and 94B slide into the slits 338 and 340 while thrusting the tabs330 and 332 downwardly. By this means, the slits 338 and 340 and/or thenotches defined by the tabs 330 and 332 provide a similar effect to thatof the relief notches in FIGS. 1 and 8.

In FIG. 13 where the second variation is shown, each relief notch isdefined by a pair of hinged tabs 350 and 352. The hinged tabs 350 and352 are cut from the inner top panel 26C by means of a slit 354 andhingedly connected to the inner top panel 26C along convergent foldlines 356 and 358. The slit 354 emanates from the converging point ofthe fold lines 356 and 358 and extends to the adjacent tear line 90C or94C. When the strap handle 200C is pulled upward, the respective partsof the wider portions 204C and 206C along tear lines 90C and 94C slideinto the slits 354 and 354 while thrusting the tabs 350 upwardly and thetabs 352 downwardly. By this means, the slits 354 and/or the notchesdefined by the tabs 350 and 352 provide a similar effect to that of therelief notches in FIGS. 1 and 8.

Referring to the third variation in FIG. 14, each relief notch isdefined by a plurality of hinged tabs 360. The hinged tabs 360 are cutfrom the inner top panel 26D by means of a plurality of slits 362 andhingedly connected to the inner top panel 26D along convergent foldlines 364 and 366. The slits 362 emanate from the fold lines 364 and 366and extend to the adjacent tear line 90D or 94D. When the strap handle200D is pulled upward, the respective parts of the wider portions 204Dand 206D along tear lines 90D and 94D slide into one of the slits 362while thrusting one or more of the tabs 360 upwardly and the other tabs360 downwardly. By this means, the slits 362 and/or the notches definedby the tabs 360 provide a similar effect to that of the relief notchesin FIGS. 1 and 8

FIG. 15 illustrates a variation or alternative embodiment of the straphandle 200 in FIG. 1. In FIG. 15, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1have been designated by the same reference numeral with the suffix “E”.The inner top panel 26E and the upper end flaps 40E and 42E incorporatea series of continuous tear lines 88E, 90E, 92E and 94E which incooperation with the finger receiving aperture 62E define one of theopposed longitudinal edges of the strap handle 200E. The otherlongitudinal edge of the strap handle 200E is defined by a pair ofcurved cut lines 370 and 372 and four spaced fold lines 374, 376, 378and 380 that are aligned with one another. The strap handle 200E isflanked entirely along the other longitudinal edge by a handlereinforcing strip 112E. The reinforcing strip 112E is foldably joined tothe medial grip portion 202E of the strap handle 200E along the foldlines 374 and 376 and to the upper end flaps 40E and 42E along the foldlines 378 and 380 respectively. The fold lines 374, 376, 378 and 380 areinset from those sections of the cut lines 370 and 372 defining theforked end portions 208E and 210E of the strap handle 200E. Stateddifferently, the fold lines 374, 376, 378 and 380 are offset from thesections of the cut lines 370 and 372 such that they are located closerto the fold line 30E than the sections. These inset fold linescontribute to reduction or minimization of the sheet material (e.g.,paperboard) required for the carton. The wider portions 204E and 206E ofthe strap handle 200E each has a pair of curved side edges defined bythe respective ones of the tear lines 90E and 92E and cut lines 370 and372.

A pair of yieldable tabs 96E and 96E are struck from, and hingedlyconnected to, the forked end portion 208E of the strap handle 200E. Theadjacent ends of the yieldable tabs 96E and 96E are defined by a cut382; however, they may be initially interconnected by severable meanssuch as a half cut. In like manner, a pair of yieldable tab 104E and104E are struck from, and hingedly connected to, the forked end portion210E of the strap handle 200E. The adjacent ends of the tabs 104E and104E are defined by a cut 384 or a half cut. Bottle top-receivingwindows 386 and 388 are formed in the reinforcing strip 112E so thatthey are positioned astride the respective extensions of the fold lines212E and 214E. Upon formation of the top wall, the reinforcing strip 112E is folded along the fold lines 374, 376, 378 and 380 intoface-contacting relationship with the underside of the strap handle200E, and then the outer top panel (see FIG. 1, at 24) is folded overand is adhesively secured to the inner top panel 26E. The fold lines374, 376, 378 and 380 are positioned such that the windows 386 and 388are brought into registry respectively with the pairs of yieldable tabs96E and 104E when the reinforcing strip 112E is folded under the handlestrap 200E.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a blank 10F, asviewed from its inner surface. In FIG. 16, parts corresponding to thosein FIG. 1 have been designated by the same reference numeral with thesuffix “F”. Blank 10F is for forming a carton having a strap handle 200Fwith light protective flaps 65F and 67F. Many of the components of blank10F are common to blank 10, and perform the same functions in the samemanner, and thus, will not be discussed again in detail at this point.

Flap 63F of the finger-receiving aperture 64F is hingedly connected tomedial grip portion 202F along fold line 217F. Together with flap 61F,flap 63F functions at least in part to cushion fingers that have beenreceived in the finger-receiving apertures 62F and 64F. In contrast tothe aforementioned embodiments, the respective flaps 65F and 67F of thefinger apertures 66F and 68F are hingedly connected to the outer toppanel 24F along fold lines F1 and F2, and are not hingedly connected toportion 228F. Rather, the flaps 65F, 67F are detached or detachable fromportion 228F by means of respective severance lines S1 and S2, eachcomprising cuts, half cuts, perforations, or the like. When the userremoves his fingers from the carton, flaps 65F and 67F springsubstantially back into place so as to block light from entering thecarton. Flaps 65F and 67F spring back into place due in part to thememory inherent to the preferred sheet material, such as the exemplarypaperboard material. More specifically, when paperboard is folded alonga score line, it “remembers” its original position and tends to springback. This memory can be weakened or negated by firmly folding thepaperboard along the score line. In this embodiment, flaps 65F and 67Fare not firmly folded down, as is shown in FIG. 17, but rather, arefolded along respective fold lines F1 and F2 only enough to permitaccess to the strap handle 200F. In fact, the presence of bottles orother articles inside the carton preferably prevent folding the flaps65F and 67F down firmly. Additionally, flaps 65F and 67F also springback because removal of the user's hand tends to catch the edge of eachflap 65F, 67F thereby pulling the flap back into its originallight-protective position.

Whilst the above embodiments describe the strap handle formed from theinner top panel only, the handle may be formed from the outer top panelor from both the inner and outer top panels. In the arrangement wherethe outer top panel provides the handle, the relief notch should beformed at least in the outer top panel alongside the wider portions ofthe strap handle. The wider portions in the present invention are notlimited to those defined by the straight tear lines or cut lines such asshown in the above embodiments but also include those defined by curvedlines such that the width of each wider portion is increased toward theend edges of the associated carton wall from which the handle is formed.

It should be appreciated that, while the above embodiments describe astrap handle having light protective flaps in the context of theexemplary carton configuration, the handle could be used with certainother carton configurations having handle apertures disposed throughcarton panels.

It should be also appreciated that the precise closure of the ends ofthe carton is open to adaptation and could in fact be partially open. Inaddition, a single end closure flap could be provided at each end of thecarton depending on design choice. Furthermore, the pack may incorporatepart angled walls so as to follow better the contours of certainarticles, such as bottles, being packaged.

It should be further appreciated that the strap handles useful in thepresent invention are not limited to those having forked end portionsbut include those having regular non-bifurcated opposite end portions.

It should be still further appreciated that the yielding flaps useful inthe present invention are not limited to those glued to the associatedhandle end portions but include those separate from the associatedhandle end portions. Such unglued yielding flaps do not reinforce thehandle ends but they still facilitate inward movement of the handle endportion. Therefore, unglued yielding flaps may also be useful in somesituation where large-sized side end flaps are required in order for thecartons to run on a specific packaging machine.

It should be still further appreciated that the yielding flaps useful inthe present invention are not limited to those formed from thelarge-sized side end flaps that extend entirely across the width of acarton. Any side end flap that overlaps a handle end may provide ayielding flap to facilitate inward movement of the associated straphandle.

It should be still further appreciated that as used herein, directionalreferences such as “top”, “base”, “end”, “side”, “upper” and “lower” donot limit the respective panels to such orientation, but merely serve todistinguish these panels from one another. The orientation of the cartoncould be altered depending on, for example, the articles to be carriedin the carton. Simple modifications could result in the handle beinglocated on the side of the carton when the carton is in its standardstowed position. One of the side panels 16 and 18 would then effectivelybe the top panel of the carton.

It should be still further appreciated that any reference to hingedconnection should not be construed as necessarily referring to a singlefold line only: indeed it is envisaged that hinged connection can beformed from one or more of one of the following, a score line, afrangible line or a fold line, without departing from the scope of theinvention.

1. A carton, comprising: an inner top panel; a pair of opposed endpanels hingedly connected to the inner top panel; an integral straphandle extending between the end panels across the inner top panel, saidstrap handle including: a medial grip portion; a pair of wider portionsjoined to opposite ends of said medial grip portion; and opposed endportions connected to said wider portions respectively; each of saidwider portions having a pair of oblique side edges diverging from saidmedial grip portion toward an adjacent one of said end portions; saidopposed end portions being formed from said end panels, said medial andwider portions being formed from said inner top panel, said strap handlebeing connected at said opposed end portions to said opposed end panels,such that said strap handle is movable from a stowed position where saidmedial and wider portions lie in a plane of said inner top panel to ause position, where said medial portion is arched upwardly from saidplane of said inner top panel, said strap handle defining in said innertop panel an internal opening extending across said inner top panel; andan outer top panel secured to an outside surface of said inner top panelto form a composite top wall, said outer top panel having: a handleaccess opening defined within said outer top panel, said handle accessopening being vertically aligned in part with said medial grip portionand in part with said wider portions, said handle access opening havingopposite end edges extending respectively across said wider portions,the width of said handle access opening along said opposite end edgesbeing greater than the width of said wider portions along said oppositeend edges so that a part of said each wider portion is extended throughsaid handle access opening when said strap handle is moved to said useposition; and at least one light protective flap hingedly connected tosaid outer top panel, said light protective flap defining a handleaperture when said strap handle is in said use position, said handleaperture being adjacent to and free of restraint from one of said endedges of said handle access opening.
 2. The carton of claim 1, whereinsaid light protective flap covers the handle aperture when the straphandle is in stowed position.
 3. A carton, comprising: a pair of innerand outer top panels secured together in an overlapping relationship toform a composite top wall; a base wall; a pair of side wallsinterconnecting said top and base walls; a pair of opposed inner endflaps hingedly connected to opposed end edges of said inner top paneland extending toward said base wall; a pair of opposed outer end flapshingedly connected to opposed end edges of said outer top panel anddisposed respectively on outside surfaces of said inner end flaps; andan integral strap handle disposed internally of the carton and extendingbetween said inner end flaps across said inner top panel, said straphandle including: a medial grip portion; a pair of wider portions joinedto opposite ends of said medial grip portion; and a pair of opposedforked-end portions connected to said wider portions respectively, saidforked-end portions being joined to said inner end flaps respectivelyand being free of restraint of said outer end flaps; said opposed endportions being formed from said inner end flaps, and said medial andwider portions being formed from said inner top panel; a handle accessopening formed within said outer top panel such that the periphery ofsaid handle access opening is provided entirely by said outer top panel,said handle access opening being vertically aligned with said medialgrip portion of said strap handle; and at least one light protectiveflap hingedly connected to said outer top panel, said light protectiveflap defining a handle aperture when said strap handle is in said useposition, said handle aperture being adjacent to and free of restraintfrom said handle access opening.
 4. The carton of claim 3, wherein saidlight protective flap covers the handle aperture when the strap handleis in stowed position.
 5. The carton according to claim 4, wherein ahandle-reinforcing strip is disposed in face-contacting relationshipwith said strap handle, said reinforcing strip being disposed at leastalong said medial grip portion of said strap handle and hingedlyconnected to said strap handle.
 6. The carding according to claim 5wherein said outer top panel includes a cover strip defined within saidouter top panel, said cover strip being severably connected to saidouter top panel such that said handle access opening is defined in saidtop panel upon severance of said cover strip to allow access to saidstrap handle through said handle access opening.
 7. The carton accordingto claim 6 wherein said cover strip is secured to said medial gripportion of said strap handle.
 8. The carton according to claim 7 whereina pair of hand flaps are hingedly connected to said covers trip suchthat said hand flaps are folded inwardly of the carton when said coverstrip is grasped together with said medial grip portion to lift thecarton by said strap handle.
 9. The carton according to claim 8 whereina yieldable tab is formed from each forked end portion of said straphandle and is foldably joined to a respective inner end flap.
 10. Thecarton according to claim 9 wherein a short stub tab is formed from eachwider portion of said strap handle and is hingedly connected to saideach wider portion.
 11. The carton according to claim 10 whereinadjacent ends of said yieldable and stub tabs are initiallyinterconnected by severable line that is aligned with a fold linebetween an adjacent inner end flap and said inner top panel.